Caladenia cruciformis (Caladenia cruciformis)
Description
Caladenia cruciformis is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with a marble-sized, underground tuber. In late autumn, a single, sparsely hairy leaf 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long and 3.5–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a reddish tinge at its base emerges. A single dark red to crimson, occasionally pink flower, with darker red stripes is borne on a thin, hairy, dark green to purple spike 15–25 cm (6–10 in) tall. The flowers have a fragrance resembling a hot motor. The petals and lateral sepals are 2.5–4 cm (1–2 in) long and spread widely, giving rise to the common name. The dorsal sepal is erect, 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) wide at the base and tapers to a thread-like end with a club-like tip a further 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long and covered with dark red glands. The lateral sepals are about 4 mm (0.2 in) wide at the base then narrow to a thread like end with a club-like tip similar to but shorter than that on the dorsal sepal. The petals are shorter than the sepals and lack the blackish tips. The labellum is egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and curves downward at the tip. It is dark red with a whitish base and the sides of the labellum turn upwards. There is a fringe of linear teeth about 1 mm (0.04 in) long on the sides but which decrease in size towards the front. There are four to six rows of linear foot-shaped calli along the centre of the labellum, decreasing in size towards the front. Flowering occurs between September and October and is followed by a capsule which releases thousands of black seeds a few weeks later.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Asparagales
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Family: Orchidaceae
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Genus: Caladenia
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